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Table 1. Relative changes in expected dry matter (DMI) and milk yield and
water intake with increasing environmental temperature
University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture, and County Governments Cooperating
Figure 1. Temperature Humidity Index (THI)1 for Dairy Cows. Modified from Dr. Frank Wierama (1990),
80
NO STRESS 72 72 73 73 74 74 75 76 76 77 78 78 79 79 80
85 72 72 73 74
MILD STRESS
75 75 76 77 78 78 79 80 81 81 82 83 84 84 85
90 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 86 87 88 89 90
95 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83
ME85DIU86M S
84
TRESS
87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95
SEVERE STRESS
100 77 78 79 80 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 90 91 92 93 94 95 97 98 99
105 79 80 82 83 84 86 87 88 89 91 92 93 95 96 97
110 81 83 84 86 87 89 90 91 93 94 96 97
115 84 85 87 88 90 91 93 95 96 87
120 86 88 89 91 93 94 96 98
If more than two cows out of 10 have respiratory rates exceeding 100 breaths per minute, then immediate action should be
taken to reduce heat stress.
used for the shade cloth, it usually provides around potassium to 1.3 to 1.5 percent, sodium to 0.5 to
80 percent obstruction of solar radiation. 0.6 percent, and magnesium to 0.3 to 0.4 percent may
result in less heat stress by allowing the animals to
A fourth step to decrease heat stress is to dissipate heat. Chlorine usually is at least 0.25 per
increase the density of the ration. High quality cent of the diet, which is the recommendation
forages should be available to the animal if possible. throughout the year.
These forages may include summer annuals or a
high quality perennial. Silage, pasture and hay are Do not overfeed highly degradable protein, i.e.,
acceptable. The primary reason that cows decrease in 65 percent or greater degradable crude protein in the
milk production during hot weather is that the cows rumen, because this also increases the heat incre
eat less. Since cows will be consuming less as tem ment and requires more heat to be dissipated from
peratures increase (Table 1), increasing the energy the animal. Proper supplementation of more
density of the diet can in part compensate for the undegradable protein appears to be effective in
decrease in dry matter intake. reducing the heat of digestion.
DR. ANDREW P. FIDLER is an instructor - animal science, Animal Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and
Science Department, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. DR. KARL June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
VANDEVENDER is a professor - Extension engineer with the Director, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas. The
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Little Rock. Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible
persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, dis
ability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status,
FSA3040-PD-1-13RV and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.